Exeoutoes of



(No Model.) Y

, LA FAYETTE WARD, Decd.

W. A. MACK & J. T. WARD, Executors. MAIL BAG GATGHBR.

' No. 352,479. Patented Nov. 9, 1886.

Fr R UT U UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. MACK AND J ULIETT T. WARD, OF ELYRIA, OHIO, EXEOUTORS OF LA FAYETTE WARD, DECEASED, ASSIGNORS TO JOSEPH M. CRANE, OF

MAIL-BAG CATCH ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 352,479, dated November 9, 1886.

Application filed July 28, 1884. Serial N01 139,018. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LA FAYETTE WARD, deceased, formerly residing in Elyria, in the county of Loraine, in the State of Ohio, did invent certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Catchers, of which the following, taken in connection with the drawings furnished, is a specification.

The said invention relates to that class of mail-bag catchers adapted to be attached to and operated from the mail-car while the train is in motion for taking the bag at stations along the route and delivering the same to the operator; and it consists in the combination,with a catcher of the kind patented to the said La Fayette Ward, January 29, 1867, of a yielding jaw so acting as to lessen the blow and strain usually attending the operation of catchers unprovided with similar means forsuch purpose.

The object of said invention is to allow a suitable yield between the jaws of the catcher in taking a bag while in rapid motion, so as to diminish the concussion usually attending the operations of those unprovided with such, and which, because of their non-yielding between the jaws, have in practice been found more or less destructive to the bag and contents.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents my improvement attached to a car. Fig. 2 represents a side view of the catcher shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a top view of the catcher. Fig. 4 represents a modification of the catcher shown in Fig. 2 Without a spring.

In the drawings, A represents a shaft or pivot adapted to be supported in suitable bearings or sockets attached to the car near the door or place convenient for the operator to stand to operate it, and B is a handle by which the catcher is moved by the operator in and out of position for catching. I

O is a reach forming one of the jaws of the catcher, arranged at an angle with the pivot, of a length and span sufficient to extend (when in position for operating) beyond the exterior of the bag farthest from the car when hung upon the crane.

E represents a yielding device, which, with the reach 0, forms a jaw.. This jaw is con- 5c structed and arranged in its relation to the former so as to yield more or less to the blow it receives by reason of the engagement with the bag in taking it from the crane; and in the'particular instance it consists of a springy 5 5 piece of metal loosely secured to the reach 0 and the shaft D, united also by a link-connection with the frame G, as shown in Fig. 1, the said link-connection aiding in steadying the yielding jaw and for keeping it in proper position. It is not, however, intended to be restricted to the particular means described and shown for the purpose last named, for it will appear obvious to any skilled mechanic that various other means may be employed for the same purpose with-the same results.

In Fig. 4 is shown a' modification of the yielding device shown in Fig. 2; and it consists of a yielding jaw in form similar to the one shown in Fig. 1, although adapted to move with the bag toward the heel or pivot A when the bag is caught.

The link-connection and the opening with which the jaw is provided for traversing the rod 0 allows a rearward movement the moment the bag is caught between it and the reach.

The cranes for holding and presenting the bag at points along the route, to actin conjunction with the improved catcher, are substantially the same as those used in connection with the patented device hereinbefore referred to, which are old.

Having thus set forth the said invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States of America, is-

1. The combination, in a mail-bag catcher provided with a support-shaft and a reach rigidly attached thereto and a handle for swinging the same, of a yielding spring loosely secured at two points thereon adapted to impinge the bag, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. A package-catching apparatus consisting of a frame composed of a bar and a reach rigidly connected together, provided with a bandle for operating, and an angular bent spring substantially such as described loosely conary frame, substantially as and for the pur- 1o nected at two different points between said pose set forth.

bar and reach, substantially as and for the pur- WILLIAM A. MACK,

pose set forth. J ULIETT T. WARD,

3. A package or mail-bag catcher consisting Executors of La Fayette Ward, Deceased.

of a frame composed of a bar and reach, with \Vitnesses:

an interposed device or intermediary frame, JOSEPH M. CRANE,

and a spring substantially such as described MANUEL M. OooKE.

secured at or near its center to said intermedi- 

